Processing of cut-to-length goods

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a processing station for the processing or production of cut-to-length goods ( 12 ) with guide elements ( 1,2 ) and, optionally, a feed device ( 3,4 ) for the cut-to-length goods, wherein the processing station has a transport mechanism ( 9 ) for the cut-to-length goods, independent of the feed device which may be present.

The invention concerns a processing station for the processing orproduction of cut-to-length goods with guide elements and optionally, afeed device for said cut-to-length goods. Below, the terms“cut-to-length goods” and “continuous material” are used synonymously inthe description and the claims.

In the conventional processing of products with at least essentiallyprespecified widths and thicknesses, but relative thereto, lengths thatare greater by several orders of magnitude, so-called cut-to-lengthgoods, such as flat conductors, sheet metal, cable, pipes, etc., achangeover process is necessary when changing the material to be treatedin a processing station. This includes the removal of the remainingmaterial found in the production unit as waste, the setting up of themachine with respect to the general conditions (for example, changedwidths, thicknesses, or heights) for the subsequent material to beprocessed, and the placement of the new material in the machine. Whenstarting the machine, once again there is a certain length of the newmaterial which will be wasted. In this changeover process, in additionto the material loss, a great loss of time is produced due to thereadjustment of the unit. For this reason, only manufacturing in highlot sizes makes sense from the standpoint of cost.

Examples of devices and methods to facilitate the changeover are foundin the following publications:

U.S. Pat. No. 4,750,660 A discloses guide elements for a processingstation for corrugated paper on both sides of the endless sheet ofcorrugated cardboard, which together can be reset by means of a specialspindle drive in order to be quickly adapted to the changed widths ofthe cut-to-length goods. The contents of this publication are referencedin the present description.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,064 A concerns a development device for a strip ofphotographic paper, in which various guide elements in various baths arereset, in their width, simultaneously, in order to be able to guidephotographic paper of various widths. The contents of this publicationare referenced in the present description.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,152 A provides an automatically centering guideelement for a continuous material sheet, the course of which is curvedin the area of the guide element. For this purpose, two guide elementsare mounted on arms, conducted centrically, and drawn into the middle,toward the sheet, with a spring. Only with the appearance ofpredetermined large forces do the guide elements yield and permitrunning of the sheet. No provision is made for the changing of the sheetwidth beyond the prespecified tolerance. The contents of thispublication are referenced in the present description.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,658 A discloses a device to position and grip longpipes. This device holds and moves the pipes by means of rotatingflexible belts, which run in the contact area with the pipes viastationary shoes, the cross-sectional form of which conforms to theshape of the pipe, thereby holding the pipes securely. In order to besuitable for various pipe cross sections, the shoes are affixed so theycan be easily replaced. The contents of this publication are referencedin the present description.

EP 645 333 A discloses a two-sided, adjustable lateral guide forcontinuous material sheets (label carriers), in which between the guideelements, preferably (also) in the middle area, a support of thematerial sheet to counteract sagging, which does not hinder theadjustability of the guide elements, is provided. For this purpose,supports that are affixed to the guide elements and that move with themare proposed.

None of these disclosures solves the aforementioned problem of waste,however, particularly at the beginning of processing of a material sheetwith changed dimensions. The purpose of the invention is to indicate asolution to this problem and thus to create a simple, quick changeoverwhich reduces waste.

In accordance with the invention, these objectives are realized in thatthe new, continuous material or the beginning of the new, continuousmaterial is introduced by a transport mechanism independently of theusual feed mechanism.

In this way, it is possible to move the beginning area of the newlysupplied continuous material in the area of the processing station,independently of the usual feed mechanism, which is generally at adistance from this station, wherein the waste at the beginning ofprocessing of the new product can be almost entirely avoided.

In a further development of the invention, the transport mechanism isdirectly in the area of the work station, preferably in the area of theguide elements.

Thus, the length of the waste is reduced to zero.

In another embodiment of the invention, provision is made so that theguide elements for the continuous material can be detached or affixed byadjustment drives, that the adjustment drives are actuated by a controldevice, and that magnetic, electronic, optical, or haptic sensors whichare connected to the control device, determine and pass on the geometricdimensions of the continuous material, so that the guide elements of thework station in a changing phase are adapted to the actual dimensions ofthe continuous material, newly supplied by the transport mechanism, andare fixed in the adapted position.

By the use of such an automatic, semi-continuous placement of the newmaterial in the unit and the automatic adjustment of the guide elementsduring operation, changeover times are not applicable and the wasteproduced is minimized. Thus, it is possible, in accordance with theinvention, to carry out production at low cost even in small lot sizes.

The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of thedrawing. Shown are:

FIG. 1, a front view and top view of a lateral guide element, which canbe adjusted in accordance with the invention, in a purely schematicrepresentation;

FIG. 2, a front view of a height guide element, which can be adjusted inaccordance with the invention, in a purely schematic representation; and

FIG. 3, a schematic side view of a guide element of a transport device,in accordance with the invention, for the continuous material to benewly introduced.

The material 12 to be processed is guided during production, permanentlyor partially, in accordance with its geometric form. In general, theguide elements 1, 2, 3, 4 are implemented separately in the direction ofmovement of the material to be processed (for example, by guide strips1, 2, for the material width) and vertical to it (for example, pairs ofrollers for the material thickness 3,4). The guide elements can beadjusted in order to be able to adapt to the various configurations ofdifferent cut-to-length goods. The adjustment can be implemented, forexample, in the direction of motion through a stationary guide strip 1and a movable guide strip 2, which can be adjusted parallel to thestationary guide strip. In the vertical direction, a stationary roller4, which can be driven, can be set opposite a second roller 3, which isconducted in a movable manner. The drive takes place thereby throughadhesive or frictional connection with the material to be processed 12.

With a change of the material to be processed 12, the guide elements 1,2, 3, 4, are first detached in sections. Then, the new material to beprocessed is introduced into the guide element area. This is done inaccordance with the invention with the aid of a system, which isexternal with reference to the guide devices under consideration, forexample, a gripping system, as shown schematically in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The gripper 9 is affixed to a carriage 10, movable in the direction ofmotion of the material to be processed, on a guide element 11. It hasthe function of taking the first section of the new material 12 anddrawing it through at least one guide section.

After the material has been drawn in, the guide elements are closed atleast in the corresponding guide section. The guide strips 1, 2 in theprocessing direction are thereby moved toward one another, adapting tothe width of the material to be processed. With the aid of a sensorsystem 5 (with, for example, a contact-free, inductive, capacitive,optical design or a haptic design, as a limit switch, or feeler probe 6,or the like), there is an automated monitoring and ending of the closingprocess. The closing process is brought about by a drive 7 and anadjustment mechanism 8, for example, a rotating spindle or otherkinematic chain, such as a belt or chain drive or, however, evendirectly by electromechanical, pneumatic, or hydraulic actuators. Theguide rollers, normal to the direction of movement 3,4, are, forexample, moved together with the aid of the monitoring of the contactpressure to the height of the material to be processed 12 or thematerial height, but also the height difference with respect to theplane of the material.

In the last step, the gripper 9 is detached from the material to beprocessed 12 and the drive system of the unit—in the embodiment exampleshown, the rollers 3, 4—takes over the task of further transporting thenewly placed cut-to-length goods.

The entire operating sequence can be automated. A preliminary setting ofthe guides 1, 2, 3, 4 to the new material to be processed is notnecessary, since the sensory system 5, 6 undertakes an automaticadaptation to the material conditions. Thus, a changeover without agreat additional expenditure of time during the operation is possiblewithout interruption. Furthermore, the resulting material waste islimited to the length between two successive drive elements and thus isgreatly minimized.

The invention is not limited to the example shown and described, butrather can be modified variously. Thus, both the guide elements and thefeed devices can have another form (profiled, etc.) and/or another modeof action; their surfaces can be provided, as required, with specialcoatings or covers, which facilitate sliding or are non-slip; themountings of the individual components can be realized differently thanthat shown, in particular, elastically; the drive can be implemented indiverse ways, preferably electrically or pneumatically, less oftenhydraulically, because of the risk of soiling.

1. Processing station for the processing or production of cut-to-lengthgoods (12) with guides (1,2) and optionally, a feed device (3,4) forcut-to-length goods, characterized in that the processing station has atransport mechanism (9) for the cut-to-length goods, which isindependent of the feed device which may be present.
 2. Processingstation according to claim 1, characterized in that the transportmechanism (9) is directly located in the area of the work station,preferably in the area of the guide elements (1,2).
 3. Processingstation according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the guideelements (1,2) and, optionally, the feed device (3,4) can be detached oraffixed by adjusting drives (7,8), that the adjusting drives areactuated by a control device, and that sensors (6) of a magnetic,electronic, optical, or haptic constitution, which are connected to thecontrol device, detect the geometric dimensions of the continuousmaterial (12) and pass them on to the control device, so that the guideelements (1,2) and, optionally, the feed device (3,4) are adapted, in achanging phase, to the actual dimensions of the continuous material(12), newly supplied by the transport mechanism, and are fixed in theadapted position.